Local-alarm door for signal-boxes



(NoMoael.)

P. W. OOLE.

LOOAL ALARM DOOR FOR SIGNAL BOXS. NO. 552,746. v Patented Jan. '7, 1896.V

FREDERICK WV.

PATENT @Erica COLE, OF NEVTCN, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCAL-ALARM DOOR FOR SIGNAL-BOXES.

SPECIFTCATION forming part of Letters liatent No. 552,746, dated January 7, 1396.

Application filed March 9, 1895.

p Serial No. 541,120. (No model.)

To all 1072/0771,` it may concern:

i Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Local-Alarm Doors for Signal-Boxes, of which the following description'7 in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a local-alarmdoor for fire-alarm and other signal-boxes, whereby a local alarm is given before the lire-alarm can be transmitted.

Local-alarm mechanism for tire-alarm or other electric signal-boxes have been made in different ways; but many of them are insuficient for the reason that a box-tampercr can, by operating them slowly, produce so little noise as not to call the attention of passersby, and hence can thereafter tamper with the My invention is herein represented as adapted to be applied to a box wherein the operating-lever of the signaling mechanism is accessible upon opening the door,and the localalarm mechanism is connected with the bolt or lock of said door, so that as it is operated the bolt will be withdrawn or the lock operated, permitting the door to be opened.

In carrying out this invention the strikinglever of a local gong is operated by a toothed wheel to which is connected an actuatingspring, the other end of said spring being connected with a knob or handle, which upon being turned extends said spring and stores up sufficient energy to turn the toothed actuating-wheel. A locking device is provided for the actuating-Wheel, which holds it at rest while the knob or handle is being turned to extend the actuating-spring, and which locking device is tripped by a tripping-finger operated by said knob or handle to let ofi' the actuating-wheel before the bolt of the door is withdrawn, and as soon as said actuatingwheel is thus released it operates the strikinglever, and during such time is absolutely out of the control of the man at the box.

While I have herein shown the local-alarm mechanism as adapted to withdraw the bolt of the lock, that the door may be opened and subsequently the alarm turned in, it is obvious that it may be connected with the opcrating-lever of the signaling' mechanism in i any usual way.

The parts are furthermore so arranged that the bolt of the door may be slid with an outside detachable key in the common way, whenever desired, without operating the local alarm.

Figure l shows a rear side view of a localalarm door for iire-alarm boxes; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the local-alarm door shown in Fig. l.; Fig. 3, an enlarged view ot' several oi the operating parts of the local-alarm mechanism.

The doorA of any usual shape and size is recessed suiiiciently to receive the local-alarm mechanism. The gong a is attached to a post by a screw a', and the striking-lever d2 is s cured to a shaft or arbor of a pallet c3, which co-operates with or is moved by a toothed actuating-wheel a4. The toothed wheel a* is placed loosely upon the spindle c5 to which the knob or handle et is secured, and a lug a7 is formed on said toothed Wheel, adjacent the spindle a5, which lug enters a gap cut in a hub as secured to said spindle c5 by a set-screw ci). A coiled spring Z2 surrounds the hub co8, one end of which is attached to said hub, and the other end to a pin b2 on the frame, said spring acting as a return-spring to restore the knob c6 and connected parts to their normal position of rest. A ratchet-wheel c is secured to the frame, and a pawlc is pivotally connected to the toothed actuating-wheel a4, a suitable spring being provided for normally pressing said pawl into engagement with the ratchetwheel. This pawl and ratchet constitute a locking device for the toothed actuating-wheel a4. The pawl c has a projection c2, which lies in the path of movement of a tripping-finger d formed on the hub as, so that after the knob a6 has been turned a certain distance said iinger d will strike and disengage the pawl c. A spri ng e is attached at one end to the tripping-finger d, and at the other end to the actuating-wheel c, and as the knob c is turned the spring c will be extended while the actuating-wheel is held at rest, and such movenient of the parts may continue until the pawl c' is disengaged from the ratchet-wheel, and

the toothed wheel having been thus released IOO it quickly turns, operating the striking-lever and violently sounding the gong. The hub d8 has also formed on it a crank-arm f which is turned therewith, and which after the handle has been turned about half round strikes one arm of a bell-crank lever f' pivoted to the frame and held in its normal position of rest by a spring. The other arm of said bellcrank lever engages a bolt f3 of the door, which is withdrawn by said bell-crank lever being turned by the crank-arm j'.

Thus it will be seen that the local alarm will respond when the knob or handle has been turned a certain distance, and when it begins to act is absolutely out of the control of the man at the box, and that subsequently the bell-crank lever f is moved to withdraw the bolt. The door may then be opened and the alarm pulled in. lt will also be observed that the bell-crank lever f is independent of the local-alarm mechanism, so that a key may be introduced and the bolt withdrawn, as usual, without disturbing the local-alarm mechanism. Hence a person having a key can open the door without causing the local alarm to respond.

The notches on the wheel c are arranged quite close together, so that the handle can be turned but a short distance before the localalarm mechanism is let off, and if the knob is continuously turned the local alarm will continue to respond, and can be more or less accelerated at the option of the man at the y box.

Furthermore, the gap in the hub is made of such length that the knob can be turned with relation to the wheel but a little more than is required to trip the locking device, and thereafter the power applied is used in accelerating the progress of the wheel.

If a single notch is employed in wheel c it is possible to turn the knob and trip the locking device but once, and then hold the knob at rest a short time while the local alarm is sounding, and then to further turn the knob slowly, making but little noise; but by providing several notches, 'if the knob should be so slowly turned the actuating-spring will advance the wheel d4 sufficiently for the pawl c to. drop into another notch, and in such case the wheel d4 will again be held at rest while its actuating-spring is again extended. llence it is impossible to turn the knob slowly and by making but little noise tamper with the box. lt will be further observed that by providing the lug a7 on the actuating-wheel ai', which enters a gap in the hub d8, a positive con nection is insured under all conditions between the knob and actuatingwheel, and the wheel always operates before the door can be opened.

I claim- 1. The toothed actuating wheel dAL for the striking lever, combined with a locking device restraining it from rotation, an actuating spring therefor, a knob or equivalent device for extending said spring, storing up energy to actuate the wheel, and means for releasing said locking device after the knob has been turned a predetermined distance.

2. The door A, its bolt, toothed actuating wheel CL4 for the striking lever of a gong, actuating spring therefor, knob accessible at the outside of the box, connected with and adapted to extend said actuating spring, a locking device for the toothed actuating wheel which holds it at rest while the spring is being extended, a tripping 1in ger therefor operated by the knob, and arm f also connected with and turned by said knob which withdraws the bolt, substantially as described.

3. The local alarm mechanism comprising the actuating wheel a4 for the striking lever of the gong, pawl c', carried by it, toothed wheel c, knob d6, tripping iinger carried by it, and an actuating spring connecting the wheel d4 with the knob.

4. The combination of the toothed actuating wheel d4, a locking device therefor, independent handle a, spring e connecting the handle with the wheel, which when extended by said handle stores up energy to actuate the wheel, means for releasing said locking device after the handle has been turned a predetermined distance, and the lug a7 on the wheel which enters a gap in the hub of the handle, permitting a limited independent movement of the handle, but insuring positive operation of the actuating wheel before the door can be opened.

5. A door, bolt therefor, pivoted spring controlled bell-crank lever f, one arm of which engages said bolt, local alarm mechanism operated by a knob accessible from the outside of the door, and crank arm f also operated by said knob, which when turned engages the other arm of said bell-crank lever, to slide the bolt, and a detachable key for also sliding said bolt without operating the local alarm mechanism.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK XV. COLE.

Vitnesscs B. J. Novus, FLORENCE H. DAvis.

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